NZXT S340 By Razer ATX Case Review By Tom Jaskulka Manufacturer: NZXT, Inc. Product Name: S340 Designed By Razer Model Number: CA-S340W-RA UPC: 815671012609 Price As Tested: $99.99 (Amazon | NewEgg) Full Disclosure: The product sample used in this article has been provided by NZXT. The Designed By Razer program was started last year to provide a way for manufacturers to collaborate with Razer's design studio, allowing for products with the Razer branding that may not have existed otherwise. Razer ventured into the gaming laptop market with their Blade series of laptops; so far their desktop components have been limited to peripherals (keyboards/mice/audio). That changed with the introduction of the NZXT H440 | Designed By Razer ATX case. This special edition added some signature Razer elements to the mix - that treatment has now been extended to the H440's sibling, the NZXT S340. Today, Benchmark Reviews has an opportunity to take a closer look at the S340 "Designed By Razer" edition from NZXT (model CA-S340W-RA). Can a budget-oriented chassis co-exist with a higher price tag? Read on to find out! Note: Description taken from the NZXT S340 | Designed By Razer page on razerzone.com. Designed by Razer Case Licensing Program The Designed by Razer licensing program is open to selected case manufacturers, and it is subject to a rigorous vetting process by the award-winning Razer design and engineering team prior to approval. Leveraging Razer’s design expertise and product engineering sensibilities, every design element of a licensed case is directed by Razer in collaboration with the case manufacturer partner. S340 – Designed by Razer Razer and NZXT have joined forces to merge Razer’s signature design and unmistakable style with NZXT’s innovative S340 Mid-Tower case. The new custom case features a backlit Triple-Headed Snake logo, tinted window, illuminated LED power button, green underglow, and green USB ports. Are you ready to build your masterpiece? An all-steel chassis wrapped in a durable steel casing, a grommet-less cable management bar and integrated PSU shroud, all in a compact form factor sporting signature design elements from Razer. The S340 – Designed by Razer is a compact solution that makes it easy to build an ultra-clean Razer themed desktop PC. Features & Specifications Model Number CA-S340W-RA Drive Bays External 5.25": 0 Internal 3.5": 2+1 Internal 2.5": 2+1 Cooling System Front: 2x 140/2x120mm Top: 1x 140/120mm (1 x 120mm FN V2 Fan Included) Rear: 1x 120mm (1 x 120mm FN V2 Fan Included) Filters Front (Included) Bottom Rear(Included) Radiator Support Front 2 x 140 or 2 x 120mm Rear 1 x 120mm Clearance GPU Clearance With Radiator: 334mm GPU Clearance Without Radiator: 364mm CPU Cooler: 161mm Cable Management: Lowest Point - 17mm; Highest Point 168mm Dimensions 200mm x 445mm x 432mm Material SECC Steel, ABS Plastic Motherboard Support Mini-ITX, micro-ATX, ATX Expansion Slots 7 External Electronics 1 x Audio/Mic 2x USB 3.0 Product Weight 7.29 kg UPC 815671012609 EAN 5060301692903 USB 3.0 Ports 2 Warranty 2 Years NZXT S340 Designed By Razer Overview We've seen the S340 here at Benchmark Reviews before, but the Razer edition (like the H440 before it) adds a few new features. While it's mainly a cosmetic upgrade there are a few new details that will stand out. First, let's take a look around the outside. The overall structure is the same - this is definitely an S340, but right away the front panel sets this particular edition apart from the rest. Razer's signature triple-headed snake logo, backed in green, stands out on the normally-featureless S340 front panel. This logo is backlit with an LED (green, naturally). The window used on the left side panel is the same shape and size as on the other S340s from NZXT, but this version uses a darkly tinted window to fit the overall matte black-on-black theme. The matte black used is very similar to the matte black/red and matte black/blue color editions of the S340. However, the treatment applied to the Razer Edition seems ever so slightly more durable - perhaps as a result of the maturation of the S340 itself? You'll still need to be pretty careful handling it overall, as the matte coating just doesn't have the same durability of many gloss finishes. We'll see if this becomes an issue later during assembly. The matte treatment extends everywhere. The back panel displays the typical ATX format employed by the S340, although there are a few new features here. A small button at the top controls the additional case lighting (it's an "all-or-nothing" approach here - either the two zones are all on or all off), and an additional bracket fills in the small gap above the PCI-E slots/thumbscrews. Unlike the red/blue color editions of the S340, Razer's version uses yet more black for the front panel plastic insert. Razer Green still makes an appearance in the plastic inserts for the two USB 3.0 ports alongside the headphone/mic jacks, and the power LED indicator (a ring around the power button) is also lit with a green LED. Small icons for the headphone/mic/usb ports are done in a gloss black, making them very subtle. A frame-less dust filter (yes, it's about as flimsy as it sounds) covers the PSU intake underneath the S340, and mounting holes for a 2.5" or 3.5" drive can be seen up front. Flanking the sides of the S340 are the green LED light bars that are a unique addition to the Razer edition. NZXT S340 Designed By Razer Detailed Features Razer adds a few more distinct touches to their variation of the NZXT S340. The USB 3.0 plugs use the signature Razer Green first featured on the Razer Blade system. I'm not sure how many you have to order to get the USB 3.0 ports in a custom color, but I'm guessing - since no other manufacturer has done it yet (other than Apple's grey) - this might be the first color other than blue to be featured. A small detail, but small touches like these are nice to see. The interior is finished entirely in all matte black, with the exception of a (non-LED, paint only) green Razer logo on the cable management bar. I originally expected this bar to be bright green like the red/blue versions of the S340. I think the matte black was probably a better move overall, allowing the system to blend in with a wider range of components. The rest of the interior is the same as the regular S340. The 2.5" SSD trays, vents over the 3.5" cage area and the 2x140mm front fan/radiator mounts are all in their usual locations. Most motherboard standoffs are pre-installed; a raised center post allows a builder to hang an ATX motherboard and keep it in place relatively hands-free. The front panel hides a virtually full-length magnetic filter, allowing for the nearly unrestricted airflow the S340 is known for (the large airflow channel behind the front panel provides no shortage of fresh air in spite of the solid front). A plastic housing which contains the front green LED connects to the rest of the chassis with a simple 2-pin quick disconnect. Two matte black 120mm FN v2 series fans arrive with the S340. The interior is otherwise free of any obstructions, making for a very clean and tidy appearance. The S340 arrives with all cables nicely bundled. Some will need to be split off from the group of course; multiple tie down points all over the chassis make this a simple task to keep everything in order. An accessory box is nestled in the two 3.5" drive trays. This entire section (like the H440 and other S340s) is partitioned off from the main motherboard compartment, keeping all of the PSU wiring hidden from view. Building in the NZXT S340 Razer Edition Building is always the fun part, so let's get to it! There isn't anything structurally different about the Razer version of the S340, so this should go pretty well considering how easy the S340 is to build. Perhaps we can take advantage of the green theme though... With wide open ATX chassis such as the S340, build order doesn't matter quite so much. We'll start with the motherboard and plan out the cable connections from there. Gigabyte's Sniper series of motherboards seem to be the natural fit for a green-themed chassis, so in it goes! The raised center post makes installation quite easy - no need to prop the motherboard in place with one hand and try to line up all of the screw holes with the other. Wider/extended ATX boards aren't really an option in the S340; most users with premium boards like that will probably move up a chassis price point anyway so I can't imagine that's much of a concern. The raised cable management bar/hider could easily be removed if necessary, but the S340 only officially supports standard ATX boards. This non-modular Antec VP450 PSU is pretty short (140mm); longer power supply units could be easily accommodated in the S340 without much trouble. While it's possible to install the PSU from the side like most cases the S340 uses a removable frame to make installation easy from the back. Simply attach the frame to the regular ATX mounting points on the power supply and slide the whole assembly in. (On a side note, it's easy to see in the above picture that the two installed FN V2 120mm fans are already connected - their adapter just needs to be plugged in to the power supply.) The S340 is pretty compact for an ATX tower so even a budget unit like the Antec VP450 didn't have a problem routing cables (like the 4/8-pin CPU connector) behind the motherboard tray to the top of the board. Mounting a 2.5" drive can be done at any time with the removable drive trays; you'll want to make sure to poke some SATA power connectors up through the PSU shroud (as well as any GPU power connections needed for a graphics card). While not entirely necessary, a Corsair H80i easily mounts to the rear 120mm fan, providing another green LED for the build. The mounting location up top can fit a 140mm fan as well, but there really isn't enough clearance there for an AIO radiator + fan. If you plan to watercool in the NZXT S340, the rear 120mm mount and front 120/140mm mounts are the only real options. A GTX960 "100ME" edition from MSI adds another splash of green to the build and easily fits with room to spare. The S340 would have no problems fitting the largest video cards on the market, although if you plan to use a double-thick radiator along with push/pull fans you may want to start paying attention to clearances. More green! Twin 140mm fans in front should provide more than enough airflow for the types of builds common to this segment of case. You'll need to find a way to power them - unlike the H440, the S340 does not have any chassis fan controllers built-in. Given its budget nature, I'm not sure one would be entirely necessary - NZXT sent along one of their new GRID+V2 fan hubs anyway, and you can read more about that here (review coming soon!). I remember when rubber grommets were (still?) all the rage - to think we used to be required to shove bundles of wires through little holes at all! (I'm being a bit hyperbolic here, grommets are one of the better things to happen to computer cases in recent years - at least the ones that stay in place!) The S340 sidesteps this issue quite elegantly by forgoing holes entirely (well, except for the PSU shroud). Easy access makes it a simple matter to connect everything at any point in the build process. There's a reason why the S340 gets recommended quite often to new builders online, it's a pretty forgiving chassis overall. However, that easy access and PSU shroud means you'll end up with a spaghetti mess of cables faster than you think... Before getting to the cables, and even though I rarely use mechanical storage in basic builds anymore, I thought I should show how to add a drive (and a few more cables!) to the mix. 3.5" drives simply slide in to the drive cage in the bottom/front of the S340. A few thumbscrews (or regular cross-tip screws, both will work and are supplied) and the HDD is locked in place. Remember, you can access the front of this drive cage easily by going through the wide-open front panel - no need to try and squeeze your fingers in there. Anyway, I don't plan on using a HDD for this particular build. The non-modular (and not even sleeved!) Antec VP450 makes it a little tougher to keep everything tidy, but the various tie-down points everywhere make it pretty easy to get things a little more organized. Frankly, it won't matter much anyway - none of these (with the exception of a portion of the 24-pin ATX) cables really show through the window! I suppose a few more tie downs on the "floor" of the S340 could help in organizing a few cables, but it really isn't necessary whatsoever. If you look closely, you can catch a glimpse of the GRID+V2 fan controller tucked in - it even fit nicely under the 3.5" drive cage. Looking at the finished product and reflecting on the build process, it's easy to see why the NZXT S340 is constantly recommended to new builders in various PC-related forums online. It's easy to keep tidy, there are very few (if any) clearance issues for the majority of mainstream components available, there aren't any "gotchas" while building (the order of components doesn't really matter), there's enough performance to keep anything but a triple-SLI/CrossFire system cool (those aren't typically housed in sub-$100 cases anyway) and a clean, good looking build can be achieved almost effortlessly. Lighting & Comparing the NZXT S340 Razer Edition With everything wired up, let's see how that lighting looks. The right choice of components can make a themed build pretty easy to do. The Gigabyte Sniper B85 motherboard pictured has a row of green LEDs along the right edge, and the BitFenix Spectre Pro fans do a good job of matching the theme as well (NZXT also makes FN V2 fans with green LEDs). The chassis lights aren't on yet though - just a press of a button on the back... That's more like it. Obviously, this photo is a little overexposed to emphasize the lighting, but it's quite striking when viewed in the dark. The LED "underglow" bars are very bright even in daylight, and at night they wash everything in that Razer green glow. Adding the tinted side panel subdues the overall glow a bit - it would be hard to see a system inside without some additional lighting to highlight any color choices. Since green motherboards are relatively scarce nowadays, the heavy tint might help another board blend in better anyway. It's no secret at this point the S340 hits quite a few positive targets for a chassis at this price point. This is the Razer edition though - are the cosmetic improvements enough to justify the $30 MSRP premium over the standard versions of the NZXT S340? For the record, we're talking two LED light bars, a green-backlit Razer logo in front (and a switch to control the two), a painted logo on the cable management bar inside, and a custom touch to the USB 3.0 ports and power LED. Those hoping for a green version of the matte black/blue/red color editions of the S340 might find this all a bit too much and just pull out some neon green spray paint - that cable management bar does remove quite easily... Razer fans already invested in that ecosystem probably couldn't care less. For what it's worth, the Razer edition does seem to have a bit more thought and finesse applied to it than the other S340s. The matte paint seems ever so slightly more "premium," and you'd need a laser cutter to etch out Razer's complicated triple-headed snake logo in the front panel (good luck cutting that out with a Dremel). The light bars are a step above the typical aftermarket solutions, with excellent diffusion and color. Little touches like the USB 3.0 plastic color are quite unique. In the end, paying extra to showcase some brand loyalty is an option most of us choose, whether it's computer cases or shoes/cars/sports teams/drinks/etc. For those wanting that option for their computer case, it's an easy choice over the other S340 chassis. ATX Case Final Thoughts So, we've established that for fans of Razer peripherals and those users that like to have everything match it doesn't get much better than the Razer Edition of the NZXT S340...but let's try and add some improvements anyway. It's fine as is, but I think it could be improved even more by: Making the Razer logo on the cable management bar LED backlit as well Adding a hex/texture pattern to certain surfaces to make the case match the Synapse driver aesthetic - front panel plastic insert or portions of the window itself, for instance. Chroma lighting - why settle for green? (No points for predicting this one ahead of time...seems only natural - I'm betting we'll see a Chroma edition by next year's holiday season.) NZXT has already experimented with HUE lighting controls anyway... Small icons for the headphone/mic/usb ports are marked in gloss black instead of silver like the other S340s, making them next to impossible to read in low (or any) light - I feel NZXT/Razer missed an opportunity to add another splash of green, which would add some much-needed contrast to tell those headphone/mic jacks apart in the dark. I suppose most audio drivers will allow you to select the device you plug in anyway, perhaps this is a non-issue...but why mark the icons at all then? Through it all, I couldn't stop myself from thinking: why no regular green S340? I'm assuming it would cannibalize sales from any Razer version, but I have to believe (Razer's marketing aside) there are people out there that like bright green that aren't necessarily fans of any particular peripheral. Of course, it's entirely possible green just isn't a profitable enough color (purely subjectively, it seems to sit right behind red and blue with orange even further down the line - NZXT is one of the better manufacturers for providing color choice in their chassis, I'm sure they have the sales data to back up their decisions). For that matter, why not sell those light bars in different colors for the red/blue S340 owners as an add-on? Taking that a step further, just make a NZXT HUE edition that can change colors! While I'm being quite critical, the fact remains that the NZXT S340 is a superb chassis for its original price point. I'm not convinced that the Razer treatment has added $30 of value to the S340, but that value is quite literally in the hands of the consumer - there just isn't an option (besides the H440 and modding) for anything Razer-branded in the desktop chassis world, and for that I'm sure there are enough customers that find value in this NZXT S340: Designed By Razer case. NZXT S340 Designed By Razer Conclusion I can't complain about the S340's performance. The no-obstacle interior design makes airflow direct and effective, and the two bundled FN V2 120mm fans do an adequate job of keeping everything cool and quiet enough for a case with its origins as a budget chassis. A fan controller could help tune this balance even further, but this S340 is already reaching into H440 territory; it's understandable why one would be omitted. It certainly doesn't look the part of a budget chassis though, and the Razer treatment just adds to the overall aesthetic (for those that like the Razer look, that is!). The relatively conservative use of bright green and extensive application of matte black means this case could easily match most systems; green just seems like the logical choice. It's really quite impressive, when you stop and think about what NZXT has achieved with what amounts to a rectangular box - it's simple, straightforward and elegant. The Noctis almost seems like a more natural fit for the Razer treatment due to the edgier styling, but the S340 was a great starting point for any design, really. Custom Razer branding is just another check in the box. The Razer version doesn't add any new construction features to the S340. Other than a new PCI slot bracket, this S340 feels exactly the same as the others, with perhaps slightly better matte paint (it could still use a boost in durability; it's still somewhat easy to scratch like the other matte S340s). It's perfectly adequate for (again) a case with its origin as a budget enclosure, but remember you'll pay a premium for the Razer branding and LEDs. That premium adds some functionality, even if it is only cosmetic in nature - none of the other S340 enclosures use any sort of LED lighting, and the type used underneath the Razer version is very well done. It's evenly diffused and very bright. The Razer logo on the front panel is also very evenly lit, with no hint of dim sections around the edges - even turned off, a green background clearly communicates that this chassis is part of the "Designed By Razer" program. Any other functionality is due to the S340 itself - the open interior, secluded PSU shroud, easy cable routing and smart, simple design all make a re-appearance. The S340 Designed By Razer edition was released in October of 2015 and could be found online for $99.99 (Amazon | NewEgg). For the second "Designed By Razer" chassis in existence, it's a relative bargain over the $149.99 H440. I'm not sure if the value is there for the S340 though, since the main selling point of the original S340 is what you get for that $69.99 price. Change that part of the equation, and now the value story changes - of course, that depends on how much value the Razer branding has for the interested consumer. Sure, a few of these features you could add yourself (barring the green USB plugs and laser-cut logos), but you'll spend at least $10-20 on LEDs and the time spent wiring it all up. The most frugal modders already equipped with spare parts might be able to do it for less...but then, that's not really the target market for a chassis like this (those users likely already have a "Razer" case). Long story short: it shifts the value proposition of the S340, but if you want to match up your Razer peripherals as a set it's a relative bargain. Overall, if you're a fan of Razer, it's hard to go wrong with the excellent S340 as the canvas for the Designed By Razer treatment. It makes quite an impression - regardless of how you feel about any particular brand, the program itself has resulted in some great collaborative efforts between NZXT and Razer. I'd still like to see a standard S340 in green as an option, and it really feels like this S340 is just begging for the Chroma treatment...but no doubt there's more than a few Razer fans excited for this case. For those dedicated fans, and with the NZXT S340 at its core, there's no reason this S340 Razer Edition shouldn't deserve a Benchmark Reviews Recommended Product award. As for me, I'll hold out for a Chroma/HUE version... Pros: + Completes a Razer desktop setup + Easy to build system into + Very accommodating + Bright, even lighting + Adds a Razer touch to an excellent chassis + Doesn't require Synapse to function Cons: - Only available in green, not really a con, considering... - Increasing the price $30 loses the budget appeal Ratings: Performance: 8.75 Appearance: 9.50 Construction: 8.25 Functionality: 8.50 Value: 7.50 Final Score: 8.50 out of 10. Recommended: Benchmark Reviews Seal of Approval. COMMENT QUESTION: NZXT S340 By Razer -Yay, or Nay?